BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Thursday night in the Thomas & Mack proved there are no forgone conclusions on the path to a Gold Buckle as several World Title races look a lot different on Friday morning.
Dean Thompson started things off in the bareback riding with his second Go-Round win in the last four nights. He was 88 points on Dusty Roads of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo and now finds himself second in the NFR Average, which is where things got incredibly interesting in Round 8.
Thompson and Cole Franks overtook Keenan Hayes in the Projected World Standings, and Rocker Steiner’s 87.5-point ride cemented Hayes’ slide from first to fourth in the Projected Standings. Steiner now holds the top spot as the Projected World Champion, with Bradlee Miller in second and Thompson in third.
In steer wrestling, 2019 World Champion Ty Erickson picked up his first Go-Round victory with a 3.6-second run.
Will Lummus remains the Projected World Champion, but Cash Robb overtook him for the lead in the NFR Average and now is No. 2 in the Projected Standings.
Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira strengthened their World Title case in Round 8 with a 3.4-second run, the fastest we’ve seen so far, and one-tenth off the arena record.
With a Wade/Thorp miss, Noguiera pulled within $21,000 of Thorp on the heel side while Driggers is $31,500 behind Wade. Jake Long/Clint Summers have also quietly found themselves in Gold Buckle contention.
In tie-down roping, NFR stalwarts Marty Yates and Ty Harris split the round with 7.3-second runs, while Riley Webb tightened his grip on a second consecutive World Title by extending his lead in the NFR Average.
In barrel racing, Kassie Mowry didn’t win the round outright. But she did tie with Shelley Morgan to make it five in a row. With a 13.45-second run, Mowry extended her lead in the Projected World Standings over Hailey Kinsel to $57,000.
Hayes Weight capped the evening with his first qualified ride of the NFR and it was good enough for 88 points and a Round 8 win. In the race for the Gold Buckle, Josh Frost closed on his first one by riding his seventh bull while Cooper James bucked off.
BAREBACK RIDING
Round 8: 1. Dean Thompson on Priefert’s Dusty Roads, 88 points, $33,687; 2. Rocker Steiner, 87.5, $26,624; 3. Bradlee Miller, 87, $20,104; 4. Cole Franks, 86, $14,127; 5. R.C. Landingham, 85.5, $8,693; 6. Weston Timberman, 84.5, $5,433; 7. Jess Pope, 83.5; 8. Richmond Champion, 82; 9. Keenan Hayes, 81.5; 10. Cole Reiner, 79; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 77.5; 12. Leighton Berry, 76.5; 13. Jacob Lees, 73.5; 14. Cooper Cooke, 64.5; 15. Taylor Broussard, NS.
World Standings: 1. Rocker Steiner, $365,571; 2. Bradlee Miller, $335,905; 3. Keenan Hayes, $303,068; 4. Dean Thompson, $293,672; 5. Jess Pope, $241,363; 6. Weston Timberman, $237,451; 7. Cole Franks, $223,089; 8. Leighton Berry, $215,012; 9. R.C. Landingham, $209,040; 10. Jacob Lees, $178,518; 11. Cooper Cooke, $177,502; 12. Cole Reiner, $158,901; 13. Taylor Broussard, $158,335; 14. Richmond Champion, $153,092; 15. Garrett Shadbolt, $147,096.
STEER WRESTLING
Round 8: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.6 seconds, $33,687; 2. (tie) Scott Guenthner, Cash Robb and J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $20,285 each; 5. Dalton Massey, 4.0, $8,693; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 4.1, $5,433; 7. (tie) Rowdy Parrott, Don Payne and Tyler Waguespack, 4.2 each; 10. Will Lummus, 4.3; 11. Justin Shaffer, 4.5; 12. Tucker Allen, 4.6; 13. Tyler Pearson, 5.0; 14. Stetson Jorgensen, 14.1; 15. Jesse Brown, NT.
World Standings: 1. Dakota Eldridge, $264,434; 2. J.D. Struxness, $251,083; 3. Will Lummus, $237,622; 4. Dalton Massey, $217,956; 5. Jesse Brown, $216,172; 6. Rowdy Parrott, $202,829; 7. Cash Robb, $201,152; 8. Scott Guenthner, $198,787; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, $193,093; 10. Ty Erickson, $172,141; 11. Don Payne, $159,279; 12. Justin Shaffer, $157,365; 13. Tucker Allen, $144,368; 14. Tyler Waguespack, $133,898; 15. Tyler Pearson, $130,112.
TEAM ROPING
Round 8: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.4 seconds, $33,687 each; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.1, $26,624; 3. Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn, 4.3, $20,104; 4. Derrick Begay/Jonathan Torres, 4.4, $14,127; 5. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 4.8, $8,693; 6. Cyle Denison/Tanner Braden, 5.2, $5,433; 7. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 9.4; 8. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, 10.6; 9. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 19.3; 10. Luke Brown/Travis Graves, Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, NT.
World Standings (Headers): 1. Tyler Wade, $326,163; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $280,000; 3. Dustin Egusquiza, $278,925; 4. Coleman Proctor, $263,048; 5. Clint Summers, $221,879; 6. Brenten Hall, $221,511; 7. J.C. Yeahquo, $214,808; 8. Andrew Ward, $198,198; 9. Cody Snow, $179,938; 10. Erich Rogers, $167,757; 11. Clay Smith, $154,053; 12. Jake Smith, $144,800; 13. Derrick Begay, $143,322; 14. Cyle Denison, $138,372; 15. Luke Brown, $134,482.
World Standings (Heelers): 1. Wesley Thorp, $326,163; 2. Junior Nogueira, $291,126; 3. Levi Lord, $278,925; 4. Logan Medlin, $249,815; 5. Jake Long, $225,316; 6. Kaden Profili, $222,684; 7. Buddy Hawkins II, $203,302; 8. Kollin VonAhn, $187,000; 9. Hunter Koch, $181,949; 10. Paul Eaves, $168,356; 11. Coleby Payne, $163,167; 12. Jonathan Torres, $155,959; 13. Tanner Braden, $154,519; 14. Douglas Rich, $144,800; 15. Travis Graves, $129,106.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Round 8: 1. Ryder Wright on Kadoka Coolaid, 88 points, $33,687; 2. Dawson Hay, 87, $26,624; 3. Wyatt Casper, 86.5, $20,104; 4. Damian Brennan, 86, $14,127; 5. Brody Cress, 84.5, $8,693; 6. Brody Wells, 84, $5,433; 7. (tie) Ben Andersen and Kolby Wanchuk, 83.5 each; 9. Sage Newman, 83; 10. Kade Bruno, 82.5; 11. (tie) Logan Hay and Lefty Holman, 82 each; 13. (tie) Zachary Dallas and Zeke Thurston, 81.5 each; 15. Statler Wright, NS.
World Standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $411,768; 2. Wyatt Casper, $352,941; 3. Damian Brennan, $346,815; 4. Brody Cress, $325,774; 5. Zeke Thurston, $320,002; 6. Kade Bruno, $255,959; 7. Statler Wright, $250,923; 8. Lefty Holman, $247,891; 9. Dawson Hay, $239,903; 10. Brody Wells, $229,206; 11. Sage Newman, $218,406; 12. Kolby Wanchuk, $171,386; 13. Zachary Dallas, $146,220; 14. Logan Hay, $144,041; 15. Ben Andersen, $137,285.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Round 8: 1. (tie) Ty Harris and Marty Yates, 7.3 seconds, $30,155 each; 3. Shane Hanchey, 8.1, $20,104; 4. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Riley Mason Webb, 8.7, $11,410 each; 6. Haven Meged, 8.8, $5,433; 7. (tie) Quade Hiatt and Shad Mayfield, 8.9 each; 9. John Douch, 9.3; 10. Kincade Henry, 9.4; 11. Dylan Hancock, 9.9; 12. Zack Jongbloed, 10.0; 13. Joel Harris, 10.9; 14. Cole Clemons and Hunter Herrin, NT.
World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $380,129; 2. Shad Mayfield, $356,658; 3. Haven Meged, $323,677; 4. Ty Harris, $307,142; 5. Joel Harris, $221,351; 6. Shane Hanchey, $218,647; 7. Dylan Hancock, $213,086; 8. Marty Yates, $207,434; 9. Zack Jongbloed, $203,061; 10. John Douch, $191,341; 11. Tuf Cooper, $188,518; 12. Kincade Henry, $174,322; 13. Hunter Herrin, $162,796; 14. Quade Hiatt, $146,211; 15. Cole Clemons, $122,111.
BARREL RACING
Round 8: 1. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Kassie Mowry, 13.45 seconds, $30,155 each; 3. Emily Beisel, 13.47, $20,104; 4. Leslie Smalygo, 13.51, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, 13.59, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, 13.61, $5,433; 7. Halyn Lide, 13.62; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 13.64; 9. Tiany Schuster, 13.68; 10. LaTricia Duke, 13.95; 11. Wenda Johnson, 14.07; 12. Ashley Castleberry, 18.77; 13. Abby Phillips, 18.79; 14. Carlee Otero, 19.09; 15. Dona Rule, NT.
BULL RIDING
Round 8: 1. Hayes Weight on Two Step, 88 points, $37,219; 2. Wacey Schalla, 87, $30,155; 3. (tie) Josh Frost and TJ Gray, 86, $20,647 each; 5. Tyler Bingham, Dustin Boquet, Chase Dougherty, Tristen Hutchings, Cooper James, Trey Kimzey, Jeter Lawrence, Trevor Reiste, Clayton Sellars, Jordan Spears, Jace Trosclair and Creek Young, NS.
World Standings: 1. Josh Frost, $390,496; 2. TJ Gray, $311,532; 3. Cooper James, $301,211; 4. Jace Trosclair, $285,993; 5. Hayes Weight, $283,242; 6. Tristen Hutchings, $268,314; 7. Jeter Lawrence, $256,341; 8. Clayton Sellars, $252,140; 9. Wacey Schalla, $234,252; 10. Trey Kimzey, $210,991; 11. Chase Dougherty, $196,204; 12. Jordan Spears, $194,331; 13. Tyler Bingham, $178,268; 14. Trevor Reiste, $177,733; 15. Creek Young, $131,609.
